Sponge holder and moistener.



G. W. HAHN. SPONGE HOLDER AND MOISTENER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 21.1916- Patented, Mar. 6, 1917.

WITNESSES:

Arron/15 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. HAHN, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

SPONGE HOLDER. AND MoIsTENEn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application 'filed January 21, 1916. Serial No. 73,449.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. HAHN, a citizen of the United'States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Sponge Holder and Moistener, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to an appliance that I erations without wetting his hand, especially in the cold seasons when the operator may desire to wear a glove.

Another object is to provide an inexpen sive and efiicient sponge-holder that shall be so constructed as to be adapted to be connected to a water-hose and conduct water under pressure to the sponge in order that the sponge and the surface operated upon may be thorougly wet at all times and not liable to cause scratching of. varnished surfaces, and in order that the surfaces may be rinsed with flowing water immediately after having been washed, and without requiring the use of a separate instrument for rinsing operations. v

A further object is to provide a spongeholder and moistener that shall be so constructed as to permit of ready removal of a worn or soiled sponge and the application of a new one, and which holder shall be dura-.

ble and economical in use.

With the above mentioned and other obing the yoke to other portions of the frame:

the invention consisting further in the novel parts, and combinations and arrangements of parts, as hereinafter particularly de- Patented Mar. 6, 1917. I

scribed and further defined in the acco-mpanying claims.

' Referring'to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of. the sponge-holder and moistener having a sponge-connected thereto; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation approximately on the line A A on Fig. 1, omitting the sponge; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal central section of theholder and moistener and a sponge, partially broken away, connected thereto;.Fig. 4 is an end View of the handle member of the holder; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section of the handle member, as on the line B B on Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is aperspectiveview of the main part of the frame which forms a core for the sponge and conduit formois- .tening it; and, Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section approximately on the plane of the line B B, omitting the sponge. 1

Similar reference characters on the difierent figures of the drawings indicate corresponding elements or features of construction herein referred to.

The handle member may be composed of wood, vulcanized fiber or rubber, or other suitable substance turned so as to form a suitable handle portion'l, a cylindrical head portion" 2, and a middle portion 3 that is less in diameter than the head portion, the head portion being less in diameter than the handle portion. The end of the handle-.,portion preferably has a socket 4 therein, the end of the head ortion 2 having a squared face 5.

The hand e member has a cylindrical bore 6' extending-therethrough to receive-a waterconducting tube. The exterior of the head 2 has two longitudinal grooves 7 and 8 there-- in extending from the face 5 a suitable distance, and from the grooves two sockets 9 and 10 extend respectively into the body of the head and they may suitably extend to the bore 6, the grooves being in opposite portions respectively of the head. The end face 5 of the head has two keyways 11 and 12 that extend from the bore,6 at right anglesto the plane of the sockets.

A tube 13 is provided'which is of suitable length to constitute a; water-tight lining and conduit through the handle member and extend beyond the member to constitute the corefor the sponge, the tube being inserted in the bore 6 and provided with a stop pin 14 that constitutes keys which are placed in the keyways 11 and 12 to retain the tube in the required osition and prevent rotation thereof in the andlemember, the tube extending onto-the tube 13 so as to firmly hold the different parts in place. The projecting core portion of the tube has a suitable number of small outlet apertures 20, 21, in the wall thereof and a plug 22 tightly secured in the end of the core to close the conduit.

For the purpose of holding a sponge securely 'for use a spring ring 23 is provided which is adapted to snugly embrace the exterior of the head portion 2, but when slipped back over the middle portion .3 will not pass over the handle portion 1. A yoke is formed of spring wire and comprises a crook or loop 24 from which two rods 25 and 26 extend, the crook being adapted to extend over the end of the core, the ends of the rods having inwardly extending lugs 27 and 28 thereon respectively to be inserted in the sockets 9 and 10 respectively when the rods are drawn into the adjacent grooves 7 and 8. The tension of the crook 24 is such as to cause the rods to extend divergently therefrom when released so that a piece of sponge 29 may be forced between the rods, the latter being afterward forcibly pressed against the sponge and drawn by the operator into the grooves 7 and 8 respectively after having forced the core into the body of the sponge, the rods being retained in place by means of the ring 23 which is forced over them.

In practical use the handle portion 1 held inthe hand of the operator who may use the sponge for various purposes, either dry or moistened, and may moisten or thoroughly saturate the sponge in a pail of water when no other source of water supply is con- 7 venlent. When'a, water-hose 1s convenient its coupling member is connected with the screw-threads 18 of the socket on the end of the handle member, so that water is forced through the tubel3 and out of the apertures in the wall of the core of the sponge so as to saturate the sponge to any desired degree. The sponge is moved over the surface required to be cleansed until the dust or dirt is loosened, and while an ample supply of water is provided the sponge may be pressed repeatedly upon the surface so that the water shall flow freely therefrom and rinse the loosened dirt and float it away.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. An improved sponge-holder and moistener comprising a tube having apertures in its wall near one end of the tube, a plug secured in said end of the tube, a coupling device secured to the opposite end of the tube, a key pin secured in the wall of the tube intermediately of the ends thereof and exless in diameter than the head portion, the

head portion having two longitudinally-extending grooves in its 'xterior and also two sockets extending transversely from the grooves respectively and inwardly adjacent to said middle portion; a yoke'comprising an elastic crook and two rods having each alug thereon, the rods extending in the grooves respectively, the lugs extending respectively into said sockets; and a spring ring embracing'the two rods and removable therefrom to said middle portion of the handle member. i 3. In a sponge-holder and moistener, the combination of a hollow handle member having a transverse keyway in one end thereof, a tube extending through the handle memher and also outward beyond said end, the wall of the tube beyond said member being apertured, a plug secured in the outer end of said tube, a key pin secured in and extending transversely through the wall of said tube and seated in said keyway, and a coupling device secured to the opposite end of nected to said handle member.

4..In a sponge-holder and moistener, the combination with a natural sponge, of a core adapted. to be forcibly inserted endwise into the sponge, a handle secured to the core, a yoke comprising an elastic crook and two rods extending from .the crook to embrace and compress the sponge on the core, and means for securing the rods to the handle. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses. GEORGE W. HAHN. Witnesses:

E. T. SILvIUs, M. E. SPARROW.

.of said member, with a yoke extending about the outer plugged end of said tube and .con- 

